Michael Dell Eyes Channel Growth, Makes Grab For HP VARs

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Michael Dell told a group of solution providers that he expects solution providers to soon account for 50 percent or more of Dell's total sales, and that uncertainty over HP's PC business plans is opening big opportunities for Dell's channel partners.

Dell, speaking at a lunch for solution providers at the Dell World conference, said that during the last four years his company has made big strides in embracing channel partners, but he knows that more work needs to be done.

"I visit a lot of partners," he said. "My first words often are, we come in peace."

That peace has come about in part by a reprogramming of Dell's sales team to think less about selling direct to customers and more about working with partners, Dell said. For instance, a comp neutral commission plan has helped convince the company's best sales teams that they can close their quotas faster via partners than selling direct.

Dell's commitment to channel partners is starting to show results, as about one-third of the company's commercial business is now coming from the channel, a proportion that is on the way to growing to 50 percent or more, Dell said.

However, Dell said, there will continue to be conflicts, but that his company will work to overcome issues. "We're basically breaking ties in favor of channel partners," he said.

One partner asked Dell if he plans to utilize the channel to take advantage of that uncertainty.

"Absolutely," Dell said. "I love that question. And I think HP's troubles are not over yet."

For instance, Dell said, HP has fired several of its most recent CEOs, another cause of uncertainty.

"The door is open [for attacking HP]," he said. "We're running through the door with vigor. And we're running with you partners ... It's a great time for us, for Dell, and the channel, to go together."

Michael Kmiec, Dell sales specialist at SHI International, a Piscataway, N.J.-based solution provider whose main technology partner is HP, said customers are not sure of what to think about HP.

"Some think HP is foolish, and some think HP is ahead of the curve," Kmiec said. "So we're just waiting."

The big difference is that customers are asking about alternatives, especially those looking to refresh their IT infrastructures, Kmiec said. "It's prompted them to look at other options, not just at Dell," he said.

Dell said another big opportunity for channel partners is the move by his company to focus less on products and more on solutions, especially those where customers need help in order to take advantage of increased performance and efficiency.

A lot of customers know Dell the company but have not yet purchased Del products, often because the company did not use channel partners in the past, Dell said.

"So we need more channel partners," he said. "We're underrepresented ... There are more opportunities as we go deeper and deeper into solutions."

One concern raised by channel partners was the difficulty they experienced using the Dell partner portal to order products.